In 2026 Don’t Waste the Time AI Gives You

More time doesn’t have to mean more meetings.

AI is saving us time. Tasks that once took hours can now be done in minutes. The question isn’t just what AI can do, but what you’ll do with the time it frees up.

Too often, saved time gets absorbed by more email, more meetings, more output. But what if you made a different choice? What if that time became space to invest in deeper work, stronger teams, and intentional growth?

Here are five ways to use AI-enabled time more thoughtfully:

1. Develop your team
   Use freed-up time to mentor, coach, and invest in your people. A quick check-in or thought partnership conversation can have outsized impact on engagement and performance.

2. Create space to think
   Strategic thinking doesn't happen in five-minute gaps. Block time to reflect, plan, and explore ideas that move your work forward in meaningful ways.

3. Recommit to learning
   Use the margin to read, listen, or learn something new. Whether it’s a leadership concept or industry shift, expanding your perspective keeps you sharp.

4. Prioritize relationship-building
   Reach out to a colleague, client, or peer you’ve lost touch with. Strong relationships fuel collaboration, trust, and resilience.

5. Protect your energy
   Time saved doesn’t have to be time filled. Step outside. Take a break. Rest is productive when it helps you return more focused and grounded.

AI can create efficiency. But only you can turn that efficiency into purpose.

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